The Welsh Language

Cymraeg, the welsh language, which is spoken today by near to 900,000 people (annual population survey 2023) developed from Brythoneg, the original language of Great Britain, which was spoken at one time throughout the island.

Although it’s been influenced by other languages, mainly latin and english, it’s remained relatively pure, and that’s good news. It means that vast majority of place names have remained unchanged and uncorrupted.

And they’re also very descriptive, so learning a bit of vocabulary can unlock their meaning and provide a window into the history or legends that lie behind them (Llyn Idwal – Idwal’s Lake or Pen Llithrig y Wrach – Slippery Hill of the Witch) or they can describe the lie of the land, and give clues to the conditions a walking route will come across (Bwlch Main – Narrow Pass, Crib Goch – Red Ridge).

Initially, it might be a bit daunting for english speakers (we have a few extra vowels, and there’s a thing called mutation where the first letter of a word can change) but here’s the other good news – the rules of grammar, and pronunciation, stay constant. Learn them once, and you’re good to go. You don’t also have to learn a load of exceptions as say with the ‘ough’ sound in english (is it pronounced as in ought …. or as in rough, cough, bough, or dough?!)

Glossary

There’s a basic vocabulary of landscape terms here.

To learn more, scroll down for some useful links.

Aber	Estuary, Confluence
Afon	River
Allt	Hillside, Slope
Bach, Bychan	Small
Bryn	Hill
Bwlch	Pass
Caer	Castle
Carn, Carnedd	Cairn
Carreg	Stone
Clawdd	Dyke, Embankment
Coch	Red
Craig	Rock
Crib	Ridge
Coed	Woodland
Cors	Marsh
Cwm	Valley, Corrie
Du	Black
Dyffryn	Valley
Ffordd	Road, Route
Ffynnon	Spring, well, fountain
Glas	Blue (historically, Blue or Green)
Glyn	Valley
Gwyn	White
Llwyd	Grey
Llwybr	Path
Llyn	Lake, Tarn
Maen	Stone
Mawr	Big
Moel	Rounded moorland hill
Mynydd	Mountain
Nant	Stream
Ogof	Cave
Pen	Top or summit, End
Pont	Bridge
Rhaeadr	Waterfall
Rhiw	Slope
Rhos	Moor
Trum	Ridge

Want to know more?